New Zealand Election 2026: What you need to know
New Zealanders will head to the polls on 7 November to elect a new government.
TL;DR
- New Zealand will hold a general election on November 7th, electing a new government.
- The Mixed-Member Proportional (MMP) system requires voters to choose a constituency representative and a political party.
- To secure seats, parties need at least 5% of party votes or to win a constituency.
- The main issues for voters are the rising cost of living, unemployment, and healthcare.
- Prime Minister Christopher Luxon leads the incumbent centre-right National party, governing in coalition with ACT and New Zealand First.
- The main opposition is the centre-left Labour party, led by Chris Hipkins.
- Other parties include the Green Party, Te Pāti Māori, ACT, and New Zealand First, each with distinct platforms.
- Preliminary results will be available on election night, with official results declared by November 27th.